James Matthes "Jim" Talent (born October 18, 1956) is an American politician, the junior Senator from Missouri. He is a Republican.
He was first elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1992 and served four terms there, from 1993 to 2001, being reelected in 1994, 1996 and 1998. He declined to run for re-election in 2000 in order to run for Governor, but he was narrowly defeated by his Democratic opponent, Bob Holden 50%-49%.
In that same election, Governor Mel Carnahan, who remained on the ballot for election to a Senate seat even though he had died in a plane crash a month before the election, defeated John Ashcroft. Carnahan's death was an event that would greatly affect Talent's political future: firstly it probably contributed to his loss to Holden but secondly it would allow him to be elected Senator.
Though by prior arrangement Carnahan's widow, Jean Carnahan, was appointed Senator in her husband's place, the United States Constitution requires that such appointments last only until a special election is held. It was held during the midterm election of November 2002. Talent received the Republican nomination and defeated Jean Carnahan. He was sworn in later that month and will be up for re-election in 2006.
